Thursday, April 20, 2017
Stephanie otobo sues Apostle suleman for $5m
Stephanie Otobo sues Apostle Suleman for $5m in Canada
Published April 20, 2017
Founder Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
Stephanie Otobo has sued Apostle Johnson Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministry Worldwide, claiming five million Canadian dollars in damages.
In the suit filed in Canada’s Superior Court of Justice, Ontario, Otobo is claiming the damages for breach of trust, breach of fiduciary relation, breach of contract, negligence, defamation, poisoning, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The self-acclaimed stripper is also claiming damages for forcible confinement, multiple instances of battery, false imprisonment, fraud, assaults, sexual assaults, sexual harassment, harassment and malicious prosecution.
Apostle Suleman and Otobo had been in the news recently after the later alleged she had extramarital relations with the cleric.
She claimed that Apostle Suleman got her pregnant and subsequently gave her a concoction to drink to terminate the pregnancy.
She also demanded a public apology from the pastor for the way she was treated.
The cleric has since denied her allegations and has taken legal action against her.
Otobo was arrested on March 17, and was charged to court. Before leaving Nigeria, she was arraigned before a Tinubu magistrate’s court in Lagos
ASUU calls for Jamb registrar's resignation
Following alleged lopsidedness in the on-going registration of candidates by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr Deji Omole has called on the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede to voluntarily resign from office.
The academic union also asked the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to call the registrar to order to lessen the difficulty being experienced by the candidates.
Dr Omole said the board had outlived its usefulness and the best thing is to scrap it and allow universities design their standard examination for their own candidates.
He noted that the fact that a mock examination was stopped due to logistic reasons underscored the point of alleged incompetence of the Registrar, noting that if candidates could not do mock how sure are they to pass the examination.
He said: “Why will anybody make life difficult for candidates whose parents are struggling to live under the terrible condition the government has made them to live in?"
“Why would somebody introduce changes that are only known by members of the board? We have made case for the scrapping of this body because in the present instance the introduction of different registration procedures has turned candidates to victims of fraud.”while different centres now make business by arranging with private schools who bring all their students in group to come and register while children of the masses look on.”
“This is a failed approach to change and the Registrar admitted this with the cancellation of the mock examination. How can we ensure that the candidates prepare well for the exams when they spend weeks waiting for Personal Identification Number and are at the mercy of registration officers who force them to go to cybercafe where they have arrangements to first create their profile before they can have their PIN”
“This is where people are duping Nigerian children. This is a total failure. Students must have at least three months for registration, its procedure must be open and their options to public universities must not be limited to serve the agenda of the proprietors of private universities”, he argued.
The academic union also asked the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to call the registrar to order to lessen the difficulty being experienced by the candidates.
Dr Omole said the board had outlived its usefulness and the best thing is to scrap it and allow universities design their standard examination for their own candidates.
He noted that the fact that a mock examination was stopped due to logistic reasons underscored the point of alleged incompetence of the Registrar, noting that if candidates could not do mock how sure are they to pass the examination.
He said: “Why will anybody make life difficult for candidates whose parents are struggling to live under the terrible condition the government has made them to live in?"
“Why would somebody introduce changes that are only known by members of the board? We have made case for the scrapping of this body because in the present instance the introduction of different registration procedures has turned candidates to victims of fraud.”while different centres now make business by arranging with private schools who bring all their students in group to come and register while children of the masses look on.”
“This is a failed approach to change and the Registrar admitted this with the cancellation of the mock examination. How can we ensure that the candidates prepare well for the exams when they spend weeks waiting for Personal Identification Number and are at the mercy of registration officers who force them to go to cybercafe where they have arrangements to first create their profile before they can have their PIN”
“This is where people are duping Nigerian children. This is a total failure. Students must have at least three months for registration, its procedure must be open and their options to public universities must not be limited to serve the agenda of the proprietors of private universities”, he argued.
Naira closes at 390
The naira recorded a major gain on Wednesday, closing at 390 per United States dollar at the parallel market, up from 405/dollar on Tuesday.
This came barely 24 hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria announced the injection of $280m into the various segments of the forex market and the commencement of its weekly $20,000 sale to licensed Bureau De Change operators.
Before closing at 405/dollar on Tuesday, a day after the Easter holidays, the local unit had closed flat at 410/dollar for seven consecutive days.
As a result, currency analysts had expressed concerns over the exchange rate resistance to the CBN’s continued dollar supply into the forex market aimed at bridging the gap between parallel and official exchange rates.
Last week, some currency analysts predicted the naira would appreciate this week if the central bank sustained its interventions in the market.
Some experts, however, expressed doubt that the CBN possessed the stock of forex to wage the currency war against speculators.
But the regulator has assured the market participants that with the external reserves currently at $30bn and with oil hovering above $50/barrel, it will sustain the regular dollar injections.
The local currency had closed at 375/dollar about three weeks ago amid record dollar injections by the central bank.
Last week, commercial banks could not purchase $39m out of the $100m offered for sale by the CBN on Thursday due to shortage of naira.
A breakdown of the CBN’s $280 intervention on Tuesday showed that invisibles such as Business Travel Allowance, Personal Travel Allowance, medical bills and tuition received $80m, while the Small and Medium Enterprises window received $100m. Together with the wholesale bid auction of $100m, the CBN sold $280m into the market.
The bank’s spokesman, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said the CBN was committed to supplying forex to genuine bank customers.
This came barely 24 hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria announced the injection of $280m into the various segments of the forex market and the commencement of its weekly $20,000 sale to licensed Bureau De Change operators.
Before closing at 405/dollar on Tuesday, a day after the Easter holidays, the local unit had closed flat at 410/dollar for seven consecutive days.
As a result, currency analysts had expressed concerns over the exchange rate resistance to the CBN’s continued dollar supply into the forex market aimed at bridging the gap between parallel and official exchange rates.
Last week, some currency analysts predicted the naira would appreciate this week if the central bank sustained its interventions in the market.
Some experts, however, expressed doubt that the CBN possessed the stock of forex to wage the currency war against speculators.
But the regulator has assured the market participants that with the external reserves currently at $30bn and with oil hovering above $50/barrel, it will sustain the regular dollar injections.
The local currency had closed at 375/dollar about three weeks ago amid record dollar injections by the central bank.
Last week, commercial banks could not purchase $39m out of the $100m offered for sale by the CBN on Thursday due to shortage of naira.
A breakdown of the CBN’s $280 intervention on Tuesday showed that invisibles such as Business Travel Allowance, Personal Travel Allowance, medical bills and tuition received $80m, while the Small and Medium Enterprises window received $100m. Together with the wholesale bid auction of $100m, the CBN sold $280m into the market.
The bank’s spokesman, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said the CBN was committed to supplying forex to genuine bank customers.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Names of occupants of Osborne Tower's ikoyo where $50m was found by EFCC
SaharaReporters has obtained the full list of occupants of a swanky apartment building in Lagos where operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found close to $50million last week.
The building, located at 16 Osborne Road in Ikoyi, has nine floors of 19 Apartments and two penthouses. It is owned by a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Ahmed Muazu, who retained for himself the penthouses, 10A and B; as well as Apartments 11A and 11B.
Since the raid became public, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has laid claim to the funds, its Director-General Ayodele Oke saying it was meant for covert operations authorized by President Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure. SaharaReporters, however, reported on Monday that the woman who was discreetly ferrying the money into the apartment in bags was Mr. Oke’s wife, Folashade.
According to the apartment ownership list obtained by SaharaReporters, other owners include:
1A - A former Guaranty Trust Bank chairman, Fola Adeola, who owns Apartment 1A.
1B - Former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi and his wife, who own Apartment 1B.
2A - Ahmed Kida
2B - Ahmed Kida but apartment occupied by Esther Ogbue (a recently retired MD of NNPC)
3A - Kayode Sonaike
3B - Sterling Assets
4A and 4B - Leo Stan Ekeh
5A - Sterling Bank
5B - Damian Dodo, SAN
6A - Mo Abudu
6B - Career Terminal and Logistics Ltd.
7A - Mr. and Mrs. Edo-Osagie (Daughter of PDP Chieftain Anthony Anenih and her husband)
7B - Chobe Ventures Limited (Controlled by Folashade Oke, wife of DG, NIA) apartment where $50m was found by EFCC)
8A - Chikki Foods
8B - Mr. Balogun
9A - Damian Dodo, SAN
9B - Alhaji Tukur
10 A & B - Ahmed Muazu
11 A & B - Ahmed Muazu.
The NIA has claimed that it warehoused the funds at the apartment, which is under the control of the wife of its DG, as a “transit” arrangement, as it planned to move it to a more permanent location.
The building, located at 16 Osborne Road in Ikoyi, has nine floors of 19 Apartments and two penthouses. It is owned by a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Ahmed Muazu, who retained for himself the penthouses, 10A and B; as well as Apartments 11A and 11B.
Since the raid became public, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has laid claim to the funds, its Director-General Ayodele Oke saying it was meant for covert operations authorized by President Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure. SaharaReporters, however, reported on Monday that the woman who was discreetly ferrying the money into the apartment in bags was Mr. Oke’s wife, Folashade.
According to the apartment ownership list obtained by SaharaReporters, other owners include:
1A - A former Guaranty Trust Bank chairman, Fola Adeola, who owns Apartment 1A.
1B - Former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi and his wife, who own Apartment 1B.
2A - Ahmed Kida
2B - Ahmed Kida but apartment occupied by Esther Ogbue (a recently retired MD of NNPC)
3A - Kayode Sonaike
3B - Sterling Assets
4A and 4B - Leo Stan Ekeh
5A - Sterling Bank
5B - Damian Dodo, SAN
6A - Mo Abudu
6B - Career Terminal and Logistics Ltd.
7A - Mr. and Mrs. Edo-Osagie (Daughter of PDP Chieftain Anthony Anenih and her husband)
7B - Chobe Ventures Limited (Controlled by Folashade Oke, wife of DG, NIA) apartment where $50m was found by EFCC)
8A - Chikki Foods
8B - Mr. Balogun
9A - Damian Dodo, SAN
9B - Alhaji Tukur
10 A & B - Ahmed Muazu
11 A & B - Ahmed Muazu.
The NIA has claimed that it warehoused the funds at the apartment, which is under the control of the wife of its DG, as a “transit” arrangement, as it planned to move it to a more permanent location.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Northwest, Northeast most backward-sanusi
EMIR of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II is worried over the backwardness of the Northwest and the Northeast in community healthcare delivery and education.
According to him, the two zones have remained the most backward for a decade.
Speaking yesterday at the Aminu Dabo College of Health Science and Technology, Kano, where he inaugurated a state-of-the-art health science laboratory named after him, the emir urged the rich in the North to invest in health and education.
He said “the two regions have multi-dimensional index of poverty”, due to their inability to measure up with other regions in terms of healthcare delivery and education.
The elite, Emir Sanusi said, should unite to drag the North out of its socio-economic problems.
The monarch described healthcare delivery and education as very important to human development, just as he called on politicians, businessmen and northern elite to encourage education and community health programmes through donation and award of scholarships.
He, however, commended the proprietor of the College, Aminu Abubakar Dabo, for his foresight and service to humanity through investment in programmes that have direct impact on human development.
In his opening remarks, Dabo said: “The idea behind the establishment of the College of Health Science and Technology is to bridge the gap that exist in the availability of qualified and well trained professionals in the field of health care provision in the state, northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.”
Dabo, a one-time Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), further stated: “The aim of the institution is to train health and allied health professionals in the areas of environmental health, community health, dental health, health information management, pharmacy technician, medical laboratory technicians and dispensing optician.”
According to him, the institution, now operating on a temporary campus acquired from the defunct Bank of the North Training Centre, has acquired 100 hectres of land at Kanye, in Kabo Local Government Area as its permanent site, with hostels in Hotoro.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Babatunde Opabola, said plans have advanced to elevate the College to Aminu Dabo International Medical University.
According to him, the two zones have remained the most backward for a decade.
Speaking yesterday at the Aminu Dabo College of Health Science and Technology, Kano, where he inaugurated a state-of-the-art health science laboratory named after him, the emir urged the rich in the North to invest in health and education.
He said “the two regions have multi-dimensional index of poverty”, due to their inability to measure up with other regions in terms of healthcare delivery and education.
The elite, Emir Sanusi said, should unite to drag the North out of its socio-economic problems.
The monarch described healthcare delivery and education as very important to human development, just as he called on politicians, businessmen and northern elite to encourage education and community health programmes through donation and award of scholarships.
He, however, commended the proprietor of the College, Aminu Abubakar Dabo, for his foresight and service to humanity through investment in programmes that have direct impact on human development.
In his opening remarks, Dabo said: “The idea behind the establishment of the College of Health Science and Technology is to bridge the gap that exist in the availability of qualified and well trained professionals in the field of health care provision in the state, northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.”
Dabo, a one-time Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), further stated: “The aim of the institution is to train health and allied health professionals in the areas of environmental health, community health, dental health, health information management, pharmacy technician, medical laboratory technicians and dispensing optician.”
According to him, the institution, now operating on a temporary campus acquired from the defunct Bank of the North Training Centre, has acquired 100 hectres of land at Kanye, in Kabo Local Government Area as its permanent site, with hostels in Hotoro.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Babatunde Opabola, said plans have advanced to elevate the College to Aminu Dabo International Medical University.
naira closes at 410/dollar, CBN introduce formX for SMEs
The Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced “Form X” for the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises seeking to purchase foreign exchange from the apex bank.
The CBN said the decision was part of its commitment to increase forex liquidity and improve access by the SMEs and retail businesses to forex.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, who confirmed this on Monday, said that the measure was intended to ease documentation challenges usually encountered by this category of businesses.
He further explained that the new form, which must be completed by all the SME applicants required the applicant to fill the form with a supporting application letter as well as beneficiary invoice and bank wire transfer.
The objective of the new guideline, he added, was to remove obstacles usually encountered by those whose forex needs for either visibles or invisibles were as small as or less than $10,000.
He reiterated the apex bank’s determination to continue to ensure adequate supply of forex for genuine transactions in the coming days.
The introduction of the ‘’Form X” was coming barely one week after the CBN opened a special forex window for the SMEs.
Meanwhile, the naira closed at 410/dollar on the parallel market on Monday, the last day of the Easter holidays.
Despite the series of dollar supplies into the various segments of the forex market by the central bank, the naira had closed at 410 against the United States dollar from Friday to Sunday, fuelling concerns about the CBN dollar interventions.
Earlier, the local unit had also closed at 410/dollar consecutively from last Tuesday to last Thursday.
Deposit Money Banks lacked naira liquidity to bid for the $100m offered for sale by the CBN last Thursday.
Banks were unable to buy over $39m out of the $100m offered for bid by the apex bank.
The CBN is reportedly planning to raise dollar sales to the BDCs to $40,000 from the present $20,000, which will improve liquidity and help support the local currency.
The CBN said the decision was part of its commitment to increase forex liquidity and improve access by the SMEs and retail businesses to forex.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, who confirmed this on Monday, said that the measure was intended to ease documentation challenges usually encountered by this category of businesses.
He further explained that the new form, which must be completed by all the SME applicants required the applicant to fill the form with a supporting application letter as well as beneficiary invoice and bank wire transfer.
The objective of the new guideline, he added, was to remove obstacles usually encountered by those whose forex needs for either visibles or invisibles were as small as or less than $10,000.
He reiterated the apex bank’s determination to continue to ensure adequate supply of forex for genuine transactions in the coming days.
The introduction of the ‘’Form X” was coming barely one week after the CBN opened a special forex window for the SMEs.
Meanwhile, the naira closed at 410/dollar on the parallel market on Monday, the last day of the Easter holidays.
Despite the series of dollar supplies into the various segments of the forex market by the central bank, the naira had closed at 410 against the United States dollar from Friday to Sunday, fuelling concerns about the CBN dollar interventions.
Earlier, the local unit had also closed at 410/dollar consecutively from last Tuesday to last Thursday.
Deposit Money Banks lacked naira liquidity to bid for the $100m offered for sale by the CBN last Thursday.
Banks were unable to buy over $39m out of the $100m offered for bid by the apex bank.
The CBN is reportedly planning to raise dollar sales to the BDCs to $40,000 from the present $20,000, which will improve liquidity and help support the local currency.
capital oil sold missing fuel, senate calls for massive sack in NNPC
The Nigerian Senate has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for responding to the motion moved during a plenary session by Senator Kabiru Marafa, chairman, Committee on Petroleum Downstream Sector, on the theft of petroleum products kept in the farm tanks of two oil companies and urged the corporation to take more radical measures to avoid recurrence.
In a statement obtained by Politics Nigeria, signed by the spokesman of the senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the legislative chamber advised that NNPC should go beyond the sacking and redeployment of a few officials but initiate a comprehensive restructuring of its operations which presently allow officials and other firms to appropriate national resources for their personal use, thereby contributing to the suffering of the people.
“The Senate is appalled that NNPC is not contemplating on doing something about the involvement of officials of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) which actually played key roles in the missing products case.
“It is instructive that NNPC did not do anything on the case until the matter was raised on the floor of the Senate and the press picked the matter up from the motion.”
“The unauthorised sale of 132 million litres of fuel kept in the storage tanks of MRS and Capital Oil designated as strategic reserves is a grave occurrence. This probably is not the first time it is happening and NNPC must review its operations. It should, in fact, carry out a shake-up in the PPMC,” Abdullahi stated.
It will be recalled that following the Senate debate on the motion on the theft of the fuel, the NNPC sacked two senior officials and redeployed a few others. Its spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu said the sack and deployment were in line with the on-going reforms the corporation initiated to cleanse it of corruption.
The NNPC lost 130 million litres through a breach in its throughput transactions with MRS and Capital Oil. However, MRS had returned the product it sold from the stock but Capital Oil is yet to refund the 82 million litres it sold. The Missing fuel sold by Capital Oil is valued at N11 billion.
While Capital Oil insisted that NNPC owed it on past business transactions, the corporation vowed to recover the products, investigate the breach and set up new modalities to guide its engagements of throughput partners.
In a statement obtained by Politics Nigeria, signed by the spokesman of the senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the legislative chamber advised that NNPC should go beyond the sacking and redeployment of a few officials but initiate a comprehensive restructuring of its operations which presently allow officials and other firms to appropriate national resources for their personal use, thereby contributing to the suffering of the people.
“The Senate is appalled that NNPC is not contemplating on doing something about the involvement of officials of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) which actually played key roles in the missing products case.
“It is instructive that NNPC did not do anything on the case until the matter was raised on the floor of the Senate and the press picked the matter up from the motion.”
“The unauthorised sale of 132 million litres of fuel kept in the storage tanks of MRS and Capital Oil designated as strategic reserves is a grave occurrence. This probably is not the first time it is happening and NNPC must review its operations. It should, in fact, carry out a shake-up in the PPMC,” Abdullahi stated.
It will be recalled that following the Senate debate on the motion on the theft of the fuel, the NNPC sacked two senior officials and redeployed a few others. Its spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu said the sack and deployment were in line with the on-going reforms the corporation initiated to cleanse it of corruption.
The NNPC lost 130 million litres through a breach in its throughput transactions with MRS and Capital Oil. However, MRS had returned the product it sold from the stock but Capital Oil is yet to refund the 82 million litres it sold. The Missing fuel sold by Capital Oil is valued at N11 billion.
While Capital Oil insisted that NNPC owed it on past business transactions, the corporation vowed to recover the products, investigate the breach and set up new modalities to guide its engagements of throughput partners.
$5m scam: Nigerian kelechi declared wanted- FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has declared a Nigerian, Kelechi Declan James, wanted for allegedly scamming victim of more than $5 million.
A statement on FBI website reads: “FBI agents are looking for the public’s assistance in locating Kelechi Declan James. He has federal criminal charges against him from an investigation by FBI New York’s Cyber Crime Task Force. James is known to frequent the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East New York (Crescent Street and Loring Avenue; Vermont Street between Blake Avenue and Dumont Avenue), Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant (MacDougal and Hull Streets), Crown Heights (Park Place and Utica Avenue), Flatbush (E 29th and Avenue D), and East Flatbush (East 51st and Winthrop Street). The FBI is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
“James is 32 years old, 6’0″ tall, and approximately 175 pounds. He is a Nigerian national, has brown eyes and black hair, and may have a beard. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of James is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. The FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at (212) 384-1000. He is not considered to be violent in nature.
“As alleged in a complaint sworn out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, James, along with four other co-conspirators, ran a business e-mail compromise scheme that resulted victim losses of more than $5 million for their victims.
“As part of scheme, James and his co-conspirators defrauded victims across the U.S. by tricking them into wiring money to bank accounts the victims believed were owned by family members, friends, or business associates. They did this in two ways: by overtaking an e-mail account of an individual trusted by the victim and then requesting money be wired to a bank account; or by developing a relationship of trust with victim like an Internet romance and then asking the victim to wire money. As soon as the money was wired, it would be moved from one account to another, and the funds would be withdrawn. James’s role in this scheme was to withdraw the money from bank accounts.”
A statement on FBI website reads: “FBI agents are looking for the public’s assistance in locating Kelechi Declan James. He has federal criminal charges against him from an investigation by FBI New York’s Cyber Crime Task Force. James is known to frequent the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East New York (Crescent Street and Loring Avenue; Vermont Street between Blake Avenue and Dumont Avenue), Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant (MacDougal and Hull Streets), Crown Heights (Park Place and Utica Avenue), Flatbush (E 29th and Avenue D), and East Flatbush (East 51st and Winthrop Street). The FBI is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
“James is 32 years old, 6’0″ tall, and approximately 175 pounds. He is a Nigerian national, has brown eyes and black hair, and may have a beard. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of James is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. The FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at (212) 384-1000. He is not considered to be violent in nature.
“As alleged in a complaint sworn out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, James, along with four other co-conspirators, ran a business e-mail compromise scheme that resulted victim losses of more than $5 million for their victims.
“As part of scheme, James and his co-conspirators defrauded victims across the U.S. by tricking them into wiring money to bank accounts the victims believed were owned by family members, friends, or business associates. They did this in two ways: by overtaking an e-mail account of an individual trusted by the victim and then requesting money be wired to a bank account; or by developing a relationship of trust with victim like an Internet romance and then asking the victim to wire money. As soon as the money was wired, it would be moved from one account to another, and the funds would be withdrawn. James’s role in this scheme was to withdraw the money from bank accounts.”
Missing Unilag Student's body found in morgue
The body of a University of Lagos (Unilag) undergraduate, who was declared missing about three weeks ago, has been found in a mortuary.
Remilekun Odeleye was declared missing days after she went for a party on the Island but never returned.
Unknown to her loved ones, the young woman was involved in a motor accident on Eko Bridge and her body deposited at the mortuary.
According to her friends who took to social media to search for her, Odeleye left her hostel at Gbagada on April 1, with a friend for a party.
They became worried when they couldn’t reach her on her mobile phone.
It was gathered that her body was interred at the Atan cemetery in Yaba.
One of her friends, Medese Dewumoh, who broke the news of her death on social media, lambasted those who alleged that she might have been killed by ritualists.
Dewumoh wrote: “I thought you were missing babe. I tried to look everywhere for you but alas you had died in an accident the next day you left home. We thought you were missing, never knew you had gone to never come back. With tears in my eyes and pain in my heart, I pray you rest well because we are all going to die and yours came a little early. We are going to forever miss you baby, I am going to be strong not because I am capable but for you my happy soul, who loved with all her heart. You lived a short life but you touched my heart with your love and happiness. Now to you who live your life trolling, backstabbing, judging and saying hurtful things about people you know nothing about, I hope you are happy your wish came true. Yes she is dead but she was not a prey of what you thought and hoped it was. She died in an accident on Eko bridge April 1, and yes she was never a call girl or whatever name you all have for it. I hope this makes you sleep well tonight and makes you fulfilled.”
Remilekun Odeleye was declared missing days after she went for a party on the Island but never returned.
Unknown to her loved ones, the young woman was involved in a motor accident on Eko Bridge and her body deposited at the mortuary.
According to her friends who took to social media to search for her, Odeleye left her hostel at Gbagada on April 1, with a friend for a party.
They became worried when they couldn’t reach her on her mobile phone.
It was gathered that her body was interred at the Atan cemetery in Yaba.
One of her friends, Medese Dewumoh, who broke the news of her death on social media, lambasted those who alleged that she might have been killed by ritualists.
Dewumoh wrote: “I thought you were missing babe. I tried to look everywhere for you but alas you had died in an accident the next day you left home. We thought you were missing, never knew you had gone to never come back. With tears in my eyes and pain in my heart, I pray you rest well because we are all going to die and yours came a little early. We are going to forever miss you baby, I am going to be strong not because I am capable but for you my happy soul, who loved with all her heart. You lived a short life but you touched my heart with your love and happiness. Now to you who live your life trolling, backstabbing, judging and saying hurtful things about people you know nothing about, I hope you are happy your wish came true. Yes she is dead but she was not a prey of what you thought and hoped it was. She died in an accident on Eko bridge April 1, and yes she was never a call girl or whatever name you all have for it. I hope this makes you sleep well tonight and makes you fulfilled.”
Nigerians are Hungry because they are lazy- sultan of Sokoto
Nigerians Are Hungry Because They Are Lazy – Sultan
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday, attributed the current economic recession and hunger to laziness of leaders and the people.
The Sultan made the remark during the 22nd National Ummah Convention in Sokoto.
The convention which has as its theme: “Agriculture: Panacea to Nigeria’s Economic Recession”, was aimed at addressing the cognate issues of hunger in the country.
“Much is needed from the government and the general public to tackle hunger, as our laziness could not aid our progress.
“Yes, there is hunger in the country, but we have been so much lazy to tackle the issue, as we always depend on government and other wealthy individuals to assist us.
“Moreover, no one could solve our own problems, but we should improve more on agriculture, in order to tackle them and yield a better society,” Abubakar said.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal thanked the organisers of the convention and commended them for their consistency in organising it annually.
Tambuwal, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinku, assured that the state government was ever ready to collaborate with the Ummah in achieving the said objectives.
“The theme of this year’s convention is considered timely as it is in tune with the programmes of the Federal and State governments in agricultural development.
The Chairman of the occasion, Malam Ahmad Bello, lauded the Federal Government,”for defeating Boko Haram threats to security”.
“Having thus addressed the issue of insecurity last year, it is only logical that we should, this year, address the cognate issue of hunger in the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday, attributed the current economic recession and hunger to laziness of leaders and the people.
The Sultan made the remark during the 22nd National Ummah Convention in Sokoto.
The convention which has as its theme: “Agriculture: Panacea to Nigeria’s Economic Recession”, was aimed at addressing the cognate issues of hunger in the country.
“Much is needed from the government and the general public to tackle hunger, as our laziness could not aid our progress.
“Yes, there is hunger in the country, but we have been so much lazy to tackle the issue, as we always depend on government and other wealthy individuals to assist us.
“Moreover, no one could solve our own problems, but we should improve more on agriculture, in order to tackle them and yield a better society,” Abubakar said.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal thanked the organisers of the convention and commended them for their consistency in organising it annually.
Tambuwal, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinku, assured that the state government was ever ready to collaborate with the Ummah in achieving the said objectives.
“The theme of this year’s convention is considered timely as it is in tune with the programmes of the Federal and State governments in agricultural development.
The Chairman of the occasion, Malam Ahmad Bello, lauded the Federal Government,”for defeating Boko Haram threats to security”.
“Having thus addressed the issue of insecurity last year, it is only logical that we should, this year, address the cognate issue of hunger in the country.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
NDLEA arrests 64 drug traffickers, impounds 38kgs of illicit drugs
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bayelsa State Command, has apprehended 64 suspected drug traffickers in the state.
NDLEA also said it impounded 38 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in the state.
The State Commander, NDLEA, Mrs. Josephine Obi, said while 45 of the suspects were males, 19 others were females.
She said the suspects were arrested during the first quarter of this year for offences like trafficking in cocaine, heroin, cannabis and other psychotropic drugs.
Obi said that during the arrest of some of the suspects that the NDLEA operatives recovered one locally-made pistol, a revolver pistol, one hand grenade, five rounds of ammunition and a handcuff from one of the suspects.
The state Commander said the suspects were arrested in separate locations in Ogbia, Yenagoa, East/West road and Kaiama areas of the state.
Obi also said the command impounded a Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle used for conveying drugs from one of the drug barons, adding that the command was still combing the nooks and crannies of Bayelsa for big barons.
She equally said over 239 persons had been counselled on the dangers of using hard drugs, insisting that drugs don’t do any good to the community, individuals and the country.
She stated, “Smoking or using of drugs is not good for the body and the country, but rather influences individual to commit crimes. May I therefore appeal to parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from drugs.
“Drug is not alcohol; it has negative effects on the individuals. Talk to your neighbours and friends to shun taking narcotic drugs.”
According to Obi, a drug user is not primarily a criminal, but usage of drugs can push one to commit crimes.
She lamented that since the beginning of this year, the command had not been able to prosecute any case in court because of the closure of the Federal High Court in the state.
It will be recalled that the Federal High Court in Bayelsa has not sat for more than six months due to the alleged corruption probe of the presiding judge of the court.
Obi said the development was affecting the operations of the command as its cells were congested with inmates.
She said the 64 suspects would be prosecuted accordingly as soon as the judge of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa resumed sitting.
Obi said drugs recovered from the suspects comprised cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroin and psychotropic substances.
She said the agency was committed to extending its operations to all the nooks and crannies of the state including the riverine communities.
Obi, however, appealed to the Bayelsa State Government and other public-spirited individuals to assist the command with logistics to enable the agency to carry out its operations seamlessly in the state.
The commander, who solicited the support of stakeholders and members of the public in terms of volunteering information, said the agency was moving from reactive to proactive organisation.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Amaechi is the owner of $50m EFCC found in Lagos Apartment- Fani Kayode
A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has claimed that the $50million found in a Lagos apartment by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), belongs to the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.
Fani-Kayode, who wrote this on his Twitter page, also dismissed reports that the money belonged to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
He insisted that Amaechi owned the flat where the money was found.
“The $43 million is Rotimi Amaechi’s.He owns the flat it was found in too.NIA story is fake news! NIA does not keep cash in Minister’s flats!” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
Governor Ayodele Fayose’s aide, Olayinka Lere, also claims that the money belongs to the former Rivers State Governor.
“Just hearing with one ear that Amaechi may have link to the House,” Olayinka wrote on Twitter.
“Cover up game has started! Rotimi Amaechi owns the house.”
Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, has admitted that building where EFCC operatives found the money, was actually built by him.
Mu’azu had initially disowned the Lagos apartments, where the monies were discovered.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, the former Bauchi Governor insisted that he sold the apartments through established agents and does not know who the occupants are.
Fani-Kayode, who wrote this on his Twitter page, also dismissed reports that the money belonged to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
He insisted that Amaechi owned the flat where the money was found.
“The $43 million is Rotimi Amaechi’s.He owns the flat it was found in too.NIA story is fake news! NIA does not keep cash in Minister’s flats!” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
Governor Ayodele Fayose’s aide, Olayinka Lere, also claims that the money belongs to the former Rivers State Governor.
“Just hearing with one ear that Amaechi may have link to the House,” Olayinka wrote on Twitter.
“Cover up game has started! Rotimi Amaechi owns the house.”
Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, has admitted that building where EFCC operatives found the money, was actually built by him.
Mu’azu had initially disowned the Lagos apartments, where the monies were discovered.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, the former Bauchi Governor insisted that he sold the apartments through established agents and does not know who the occupants are.
Ex PDP chairman Mu'azu officially releases statement on ikoyi house
MY CONNECTION TO NO. 16 OSBORNE ROAD, IKOYI, LAGOS.
AHMADU ADAMU MUAZU
My attention has been drawn to the news making the rounds that I own the building on No.16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. I want to state clearly that I built the said property and sold to prospective buyers of individual flats.
I have been a property developer since 1983 and I have developed and sold several properties all over the world, the property in queation happens to be one of them. I acquired the land and jointly develop it using a bank loan, I obtained about nine (9) years ago.
However all the flats have been sold to prospective buyers inorder to pay back the loan. I do not own or occupy any of the apartments. I sold all the apartments through established estate agents as such I have no knowledge or interest in who purchases or rents any of the flats.
I commend the efforts of the official of the EFCC and the government's drive at fighting corruption and also the media in informing the public on illicit and corrupt proceeds. My response is not intended to jeopardise or interfere with the ongoing investigation of the anti graft and security agencies but to clear the misconception that the house in question belongs to me. I strongly believe that the efforts being made will surely unveil the real owner of such flat and the monies recovered.
AHMADU ADAMU MUAZU
My attention has been drawn to the news making the rounds that I own the building on No.16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. I want to state clearly that I built the said property and sold to prospective buyers of individual flats.
I have been a property developer since 1983 and I have developed and sold several properties all over the world, the property in queation happens to be one of them. I acquired the land and jointly develop it using a bank loan, I obtained about nine (9) years ago.
However all the flats have been sold to prospective buyers inorder to pay back the loan. I do not own or occupy any of the apartments. I sold all the apartments through established estate agents as such I have no knowledge or interest in who purchases or rents any of the flats.
I commend the efforts of the official of the EFCC and the government's drive at fighting corruption and also the media in informing the public on illicit and corrupt proceeds. My response is not intended to jeopardise or interfere with the ongoing investigation of the anti graft and security agencies but to clear the misconception that the house in question belongs to me. I strongly believe that the efforts being made will surely unveil the real owner of such flat and the monies recovered.
NNPC FIRES SUBSIDIARY'S MD, AND TWO OTHERS
THE Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, the downstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue and two other senior managers lost their jobs yesterday.
The others are: Mr. Alpha P. Mamza and Mr. Oluwa Kayode Erinoso, Executive Director (Operations) and Manager (Distribution) of the NNPC Retail Ltd.
The trio’s retirement and the deployment of others to replace them, as announced by the NNPC management, were in line with the ongoing reforms in the Corporation.
Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji was announced as Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue as Managing Director, Lawal Bello named as Executive Director (Operations), Mrs. Affiong Akpasubi, (Executive Director) and Mr. Agwandas A. Andrawus, as Manager (Distribution).
In a statement, the NNPC said that the new appointments take immediate effect.
Until his new assignment Adetunji was General Manager, Strategy & Planning, Gas & Power and also former General Manager, Transformation Office.
The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, charged the deployed managers to remain committed to their duties in line with the transformation aspirations of the Management.
There has been a lingering scandal of missing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) involving the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba and Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue.
A source told The Nation on the condition of anonymity that an investigative panel raised to investigate the former NNPC Retail Limited Managing Director in the deal recommended her for sack.
The source alleged: “She diverted imported petrol to Capital Oil tank farm and failed to remit the proceeds to the NNPC. The corporation has no remittance. This was one of the things they were doing that they quickly removed some of us from that unit.
“It was when the investigation commenced that the corporation shook up its management staff and made her Executive Director, NNPC Retail. The panel that was set up to investigate her role in the deal asked NNPC to fire her.”
Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue ‘retirement’ came on a day she was linked to the $43.4 million, £27,800 and N23.2million cash found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in House 6, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
She debunked the claim through credited to her lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba.
Asked why the corporation took its action, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said NNPC owes no one any explanation for its action.
“If a company retires a staff, it does not owe you any explanation. They were retired not sacked”, he told The Nation.
APC WILL TAKE EKITI STATE IN 2018- ARAOYE
An All Progressives Congress leader in Ekiti State, Makinde Araoye, said the APC would take over the state from the Peoples Democratic Party in 2018, while urging Nigerians to be patient with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government in the country.
Araoye spoke at a social security benefits empowerment scheme for senior citizens in the southern senatorial district of the state, which he sponsored.
One hundred and forty one elderly individuals from all the council areas and wards in the state were beneficiaries of the scheme.
At the event, the chairman of the senatorial district, Kayode Babade, said that the present government of Governor Ayodele Fayose had failed the people, saying that it was certain that the APC would win the next election in the state.
Araoye spoke at a social security benefits empowerment scheme for senior citizens in the southern senatorial district of the state, which he sponsored.
One hundred and forty one elderly individuals from all the council areas and wards in the state were beneficiaries of the scheme.
At the event, the chairman of the senatorial district, Kayode Babade, said that the present government of Governor Ayodele Fayose had failed the people, saying that it was certain that the APC would win the next election in the state.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Three Years without chibok girls
Today marks the third year since no fewer than 276 schoolgirls were forcibly taken into captivity from Chibok town in Borno State by the blood-thirsty Boko Haram terrorist group. It is disheartening that a majority of the girls, who thought they were secure within the confines of their school, while preparing for their final examination, are yet to breathe the air of freedom since April 14, 2014 when the kidnapping incident occurred. It is even more troubling that no news is heard of their possible fate right now.
It is, perhaps, only in a soulless society, where the value placed on life is low, as is the case with Nigeria, that such a monumental tragedy as the disappearance of hundreds of schoolgirls will befall a nation and yet, life continues as usual. What is the essence of government if not to secure the lives and property of citizens? Israel, for instance, will spare no expense in rescuing its kidnapped citizens anywhere in the world. Sadly, very little government impact has been felt in attempts to mitigate the tragic incident. Instead, Boko Haram has, since then, topped off its hostage inventory.
So far, over 70 girls have been reunited with their families, out of the initial 276 that were taken. Among the escapees, 51 had managed to break away from the heavily guarded convoy that was conveying them to the vast Sambisa Forest when the lorry they shared with stolen foodstuffs broke down along the way. One simply wandered out of the camp into safety, on her own, and was promptly picked up by the Civilian Joint Task Force members. The only ones with any government linkage had been the 21 released after a negotiated settlement with Boko Haram. Even then, credit for that goes largely to the Red Cross and the Swiss government that brokered the deal.
Unfortunately, the promise of securing the release of an even larger batch of girls has failed to materialise since October 31 last year when the 21 girls were liberated. It is obvious that whatever strategies the government must have been adopting so far to get the girls back have flopped; and this was obvious right from the beginning when the Goodluck Jonathan administration started off by denying the abduction itself. That period of doubt gave the deranged bandits a head start and the country lost a golden opportunity to go after them and rescue the girls.
More importantly, it appears there has not been any clear-cut rescue strategy. Attention appears to have been wholly focused on chasing Boko Haram away, hoping that, in the process, the girls would be found. Initially, Nigerians were told that going into a confrontation with the terrorists would further endanger the lives of the girls. Later, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, said nobody knew exactly where the girls were. The current Army chief, Tukur Buratai, has also admitted helplessness in locating them. But this should not be so in these days of technology and intelligence gathering.
Wherever they may be today, the girls will no doubt be feeling terribly let down, not only by the country they call theirs, but by the entire humanity that has failed to act to save them from their ordeal. The pledge by President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue them now sounds hollow and very distant. He had said in his inauguration speech that Nigeria “cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.” Today, the government has been celebrating “victory” over the terrorists who still have the girls firmly in their custody.
When the girls and their parents recall how Israeli commandos stormed the Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976 to rescue their compatriots who were held hostage by Palestinian hijackers, with overt support from Idi Amin, they would probably wish that they were born in such a country. That is a country where the lives of citizens matter and the state would go to any length to secure them. Similarly, no American citizen is abandoned when in trouble anywhere in the world, as have been seen in cases where some of them were rescued from the North Korean government.
Jeffrey Fowler, Eddie Yong-su and Aijalon Gomes are among United States citizens that regained their freedom because of their government’s intervention. A former US President, Jimmy Carter, flew to North Korea in 2010 to secure Gomes’ release. The Nigerian government should show more interest in the lives of its citizens as the Israelis did when they released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for just one soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas in 2006.
Terrorist kidnapping is an urgent threat to the civilised world. But Nigeria failed to capitalise on the international outrage sparked by the kidnap of the girls three years ago, which saw celebrities like the then American First Lady, Michelle Obama; British Prime Minister, David Cameron; and film star, Angelina Jolie, all identifying with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Although Nigeria initially rebuffed efforts by the international community to help in the rescue, it is not too late to now elicit that help. Countries like Israel, the US and United Kingdom that have shown demonstrable capacity in counter-terrorism operations should not just look on, but should seize the initiative and give a helping hand for humanity’s sake. This is the time to bring back our girls.
It is, perhaps, only in a soulless society, where the value placed on life is low, as is the case with Nigeria, that such a monumental tragedy as the disappearance of hundreds of schoolgirls will befall a nation and yet, life continues as usual. What is the essence of government if not to secure the lives and property of citizens? Israel, for instance, will spare no expense in rescuing its kidnapped citizens anywhere in the world. Sadly, very little government impact has been felt in attempts to mitigate the tragic incident. Instead, Boko Haram has, since then, topped off its hostage inventory.
So far, over 70 girls have been reunited with their families, out of the initial 276 that were taken. Among the escapees, 51 had managed to break away from the heavily guarded convoy that was conveying them to the vast Sambisa Forest when the lorry they shared with stolen foodstuffs broke down along the way. One simply wandered out of the camp into safety, on her own, and was promptly picked up by the Civilian Joint Task Force members. The only ones with any government linkage had been the 21 released after a negotiated settlement with Boko Haram. Even then, credit for that goes largely to the Red Cross and the Swiss government that brokered the deal.
Unfortunately, the promise of securing the release of an even larger batch of girls has failed to materialise since October 31 last year when the 21 girls were liberated. It is obvious that whatever strategies the government must have been adopting so far to get the girls back have flopped; and this was obvious right from the beginning when the Goodluck Jonathan administration started off by denying the abduction itself. That period of doubt gave the deranged bandits a head start and the country lost a golden opportunity to go after them and rescue the girls.
More importantly, it appears there has not been any clear-cut rescue strategy. Attention appears to have been wholly focused on chasing Boko Haram away, hoping that, in the process, the girls would be found. Initially, Nigerians were told that going into a confrontation with the terrorists would further endanger the lives of the girls. Later, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, said nobody knew exactly where the girls were. The current Army chief, Tukur Buratai, has also admitted helplessness in locating them. But this should not be so in these days of technology and intelligence gathering.
Wherever they may be today, the girls will no doubt be feeling terribly let down, not only by the country they call theirs, but by the entire humanity that has failed to act to save them from their ordeal. The pledge by President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue them now sounds hollow and very distant. He had said in his inauguration speech that Nigeria “cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.” Today, the government has been celebrating “victory” over the terrorists who still have the girls firmly in their custody.
When the girls and their parents recall how Israeli commandos stormed the Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976 to rescue their compatriots who were held hostage by Palestinian hijackers, with overt support from Idi Amin, they would probably wish that they were born in such a country. That is a country where the lives of citizens matter and the state would go to any length to secure them. Similarly, no American citizen is abandoned when in trouble anywhere in the world, as have been seen in cases where some of them were rescued from the North Korean government.
Jeffrey Fowler, Eddie Yong-su and Aijalon Gomes are among United States citizens that regained their freedom because of their government’s intervention. A former US President, Jimmy Carter, flew to North Korea in 2010 to secure Gomes’ release. The Nigerian government should show more interest in the lives of its citizens as the Israelis did when they released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for just one soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas in 2006.
Terrorist kidnapping is an urgent threat to the civilised world. But Nigeria failed to capitalise on the international outrage sparked by the kidnap of the girls three years ago, which saw celebrities like the then American First Lady, Michelle Obama; British Prime Minister, David Cameron; and film star, Angelina Jolie, all identifying with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Although Nigeria initially rebuffed efforts by the international community to help in the rescue, it is not too late to now elicit that help. Countries like Israel, the US and United Kingdom that have shown demonstrable capacity in counter-terrorism operations should not just look on, but should seize the initiative and give a helping hand for humanity’s sake. This is the time to bring back our girls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)